Rohingya refugee crisis is human rights nightmare: UN chief

United Nations, Sept 29 : Observing that the humanitarian crisis that has resulted in displacement of hundreds of thousands of Rohingyas from Myanmar not only provides a “breeding ground” for radicalisation, but also puts vulnerable people – including young children – at grave risk, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has called for “swift action” to prevent further instability and find a durable solution.

“The situation has spiralled into the world’s fastest developing refugee emergency and a humanitarian and human rights nightmare,” the Secretary-General said today at a Security Council meeting on the situation in Myanmar, a press release by the UN News Centre here said yesterday.

At least 500,000 civilians have fled their homes in the country’s northern Rakhine state since late August and sought refuge in Bangladesh.

According to estimates, some 94 per cent among them are members of the minority Muslim Rohingya community.

There have also been reports of burning of Muslim villages, as well as looting and acts of intimidation. (uni news)